Immigration services provider flees country, pleads guilty to federal charges

FLORIDA – A Florida immigration services provider has pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft.

Mario Henry Garcia, 65, of Miami, has pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents, as well to one count of aggravated identity theft, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (USAO).

According to the USAO, Garcia operated a business, Mar Financial, through which he provided a variety of tax preparation, divorce, and immigration services. In particular, Garcia would assist clients preparing immigration applications (form I-485) to adjust their status to that of a legal permanent resident, the USAO said.

Often, clients reportedly would have to provide an Affidavit of Financial Support (form I-864) from a financial sponsor guaranteeing to support the applicant while they were in the United States.

Allegedly, when a client of Garcia’s did not have anyone to act as their financial sponsor, he would steal the personal identifying information and supporting documents of a sponsor from a prior legitimate application without the sponsors’ knowledge or consent in exchange for a fee.

Garcia was released on bond.

On February 1, 2023, he failed to appear at his arraignment. Allegedly, Garcia absconded and left the country, traveling on a Peruvian travel document.

Garcia was detained in Panama after arriving on a flight from Costa Rica. He was returned to the United States.

U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga set the sentencing hearings for Garcia for June 14.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, acting Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Buckley, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, announced the guilty plea.

HSI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne is prosecuting the case.